Summer blockbusters

There’s a nice mix of action, sci-fi and comedy to be found in the films hitting theaters in the next five weeks.

By Bernie Petit / Lifestyle Correspondent

Published: Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 07:43 AM.

The fireworks didn’t end with Independence Day, as even more summer blockbusters will bring explosions and excitement to the big screen.

With the exception of maybe “The Wolverine,” these flicks don’t have the same name recognition of “Iron Man 3,” “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Man of Steel” – movies that dominated the first half of the season.

Still, there’s a nice mix of action, sci-fi and comedy to be found. Here’s a look at seven anticipated films hitting theaters in the next five weeks.

The fireworks didn’t end with Independence Day, as even more summer blockbusters will bring explosions and excitement to the big screen.

With the exception of maybe “The Wolverine,” these flicks don’t have the same name recognition of “Iron Man 3,” “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Man of Steel” – movies that dominated the first half of the season.

Still, there’s a nice mix of action, sci-fi and comedy to be found. Here’s a look at seven anticipated films hitting theaters in the next five weeks.

Story: When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, begin rising from the sea, a special weapon is devised – massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots. But as the Jaegers prove nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju, a washed-up former pilot and a trainee are teamed to drive a legendary yet seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past.

Story: Based on the celebrated comic book arc, Wolverine travels to Japan, where he faces a mysterious figure from his past in a fight that has lasting consequences. Vulnerable for the first time, he confronts lethal samurai steel and is pushed to his physical and emotional limits.

Story: Set in 1993, valedictorian Brandy Klark wants to shed her uptight image before college, so she assembles a to-do list of everything she’s missed out on in high school. Realizing she’s out of her depth, she enlists help from her friends, sister and boss.

Story: Two operatives from competing bureaus are forced on the run together, though neither knows that the other is an undercover agent. When their attempt to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel goes haywire, they are disavowed by their bosses.

Story: In the year 2154, two classes of people exist – the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined planet. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max, an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium.

Story: In debt, a small-time pot dealer must smuggle his supplier’s latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors – a cynical stripper, a wannabe customer and a tatted-and-pierced streetwise teen – he devises a plan. One fake wife, two pretend kids and an RV later, the “Millers” head south of the border.